SCORING | GALLERY (to come)
BEN AVON HEIGHTS — Ellie Benson hopes to compete for championships when she heads to college in North Carolina later this summer.
But first, she’ll head to her future home state with a mission to win a national championship.
Benson, a recent Peters Township graduate, shot a 2-under score of 70, comfortably clinching a spot in the 77th U.S. Girls’ Junior Championship on Tuesday during qualifying at Shannopin Country Club.
“Every aspect of my game was good today,” said Benson, who is committed to Division I Gardner-Webb. “I didn't need my ‘A’ swing today to put up a good score. I love those kinds of days. I just felt so free in my swing.”
For Benson, the result came as a bit of a shock after she putted out on the 18th green and walked towards her father, who gave her a hug and told her that she had wrapped up the spot.
“I started to get an idea coming up to the green, because I saw (WPGA staff) filming me,” she said. “I thought, ‘why is he filming me?’ And I was like, ‘okay, this must be important.’ And, of course, it was the most downhill putt of the whole day. I couldn’t feel my legs, couldn’t feel my hands. I was so shaky.”
Benson, however, didn’t need to worry. She two-putted the final hole, but clinched a spot by six strokes.
“I didn’t look at the leaderboard because I was so comfortable with my game today,” she said. “I just felt so free and comfortable, which I wasn’t expecting because I’m going through a couple of swing changes right now. I just felt so comfortable and didn’t want to mess that up. Looking at the leaderboard would have made me start second guessing myself.”
Including Benson, two members of Team Pennsylvania finished atop the leaderboard, with Central Michigan recruit Mya Morgan finishing second at 4-over to claim to top alternate spot.
“I’m honored to carry the bag that says Team Pennsylvania and honored to wear the gear,” said Benson. “It meant so much to me when I found out that I was on the team. It’s so special and I’m so honored.”
Canadian Cindy Yan tied with New York native Natalie Wasik for third, with Yan receiving the second alternate position.
The 77th U.S. Girls’ Junior Championship is set for Old Chatham Golf Club in Durham, North Carolina from July 13-18.
For Benson, it will be an opportunity to showcase her talents against the best junior girls in the country, having already proven the level that her game is capable of reaching Tuesday.
“I’m excited to go and represent Western Pennsylvania and excited to represent my college,” said Benson. “I've been working for this for such a long time and it, it feels really refreshing that a lot of my work has paid off.”
For any media inquiries, please contact WPGA Director of Communications Josh Rowntree.
